HOPE and ACTION

HOPE and ACTION 

A statement and commitment from BBP's Staff with support from BBP's Board. 

The Boise Bicycle Project believes that Black Lives do Matter, and we are in solidarity with those protesting George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. BBP acknowledges that his death--and the death of countless other black, brown, and indigenous people at the hands of the police--is an act rooted in white supremacy. We believe these and other violent acts are NOT isolated incidents enacted by a small minority, but are part of a larger pattern of structural racism deeply ingrained within our country's history. If we choose to look at George Floyd's killing as an act of extremism, we ignore our own responsibility. By acknowledging that we are part of the problem, we are also acknowledging our own opportunity to grow and be part of the solution. This is a choice of HOPE and ACTION.

As an organization working closely with people currently and formerly incarcerated, people experiencing homelessness, and people who have been displaced, we recognize the daily impacts of structural racism that people with marginalized identities experience, such as discrimination, implicit bias, microaggressions, and disproportionate rates of incarceration, police violence, and physical & psychological trauma. Through our Shifting Gears, Earn-a-Bike, and Work-Trade programs, BBP works hard to undo some of this harm by creating opportunity and community connection through bicycle transportation and empowering education, while creating a safe space in our building for all people. We are proud of this work, and are committed to doing more.

In a show of support for our black community, many of our staff attended Tuesday night's vigil at the Capitol. At the end of the event, community leaders urged folks to identify one action they could immediately take to address racism. As an organization, BBP has always and will always be committed to growth and positive change, and on Wednesday, June 10th, our white staff will be voluntarily attending, with pay, "A Conversation for White People: Reconnect to Our Spirit and Our Humanity to Interrupt White Supremacy" a two hour interactive conversation about race. We commit to further steps as we continue to implement other short and long-term actions to support racial justice and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion at the BBP. We are taking these steps in accordance with teaching from Angela Y. Davis that  "it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." We will continue to share these steps so you may join us on this journey of HOPE and ACTION. 

BBP Staff

Kylie Bybee

Patricia Castillo

Seth Gingerich

Jimmy Hallyburton

Christa Howarth

Camille Jackson

Wes Labor

Jason Marden

Malcolm Moncheur

N Echon Reyes

Nina Schaeffer

Stafford Smith

Emily Summerhays

Saxton Turner